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This week, July 27-August 2, 2015 , the postings happen to consist of one story after another of violence inflicted by the Israeli state, Knesset, settlers, religious right-wingers on Palestinians. Supreme court, civil administration, Israeli state all agree that the Palestinian village of Susya must be demolished. Despite pouring rain JfJfP and the Jewish Socialists’ […]

Many news outlets present the conflict between Israel and Palestine as equal, a conflict in which Israelis are forced to ‘defend themselves’ against lethal attacks from Gaza. Count the dead. Three more Palestinians were added to the long list this week, killed by settlers (a child aged 18 months) and the IDF (two young men protesting about the baby’s death in Ramallah and Gaza). Evidence-based judgment.

Social factors may explain why Palestinian women are highly educated but lack vocational skills. But, argues Samia al-Botmeh, Israel’s distortion of the Palestinian economy is the principal cause of women’s constricted role in the labour market.

Khader Adnan, now in hospital after a long hunger strike, tells Al Jazeera he refused all supplements, including salt. Politically ‘the prisoners’ movement and hunger strikes in particular are a symbol of the principle and demand for justice in Palestine.’

Religious and political zealots have acted out their murderous fantasies this week in Israel. Toll so far – one baby ‘burned to ashes’, four Palestinians with severe burns, six people stabbed at a gay pride march. Dr. Lebens accuses a religious rhetoric that says violent acts are ‘holy.

Masked ‘price-tag’ thugs set fire to two Palestinian homes, one empty. In the other a baby was burned alive. The rest of his family suffered serious burns. Pres. Rivlin hopes this will shock Israelis into recognising the danger of right-wing extremism in their midst.

The hunger strike is an honourable form of resistance. British feminists used it to good effect – and much suffering – in order to win the vote. Palestinian prisoners are now using the tactic. The Knesset has authorised a form of torture – force-feeding.

Apart from the massive displacement of people during and after wars, there has never been more international migration than now. There are push factors – war, repression, poverty, Islamic attack – and pull factors (work, safety). Israel’s role in this great movement is less a pull factor than a stepping-stone to the EU or USA for anyone who can unearth a Jewish connection.

The Al Aqsa Mosque, Haram al-Sharif, has since 1967 been formally under Israeli control but Palestinian Muslim management is accepted. As the Jewish right wing has grown in size and ambition they have opposed Muslim control and tried repeatedly to assert their right to ‘pray’ there. The most recent of their provocative incursions this week.

The plans announced by PM Netanyahu (see post below this one) included more units at the Deinoff buildings. The following day defence minister Ya’alon ordered their evacuation and demolition – to the fury of justice minister Shaked. The coalition cannot withstand two irreconcilable forces.

Two weeks ago Britain’s foreign secretary Philip Hammond commented that no deal with Iran would satisfy Israel; this week minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood expressed ‘deep concern’ at Netanyahu’s announcement of 1065 new homes for settlers. Has the FCO taken its gloves off?

Collective diplomacy is the Obama doctrine (except when it comes to ISIL) writes Uri Savir, and it’s one that European leaders have signed up for. Wars against Muslim nations have proved unwinnable. This strands Netanyahu who is going direct to the US Congress in an attempt to scupper the Iran deal.

Jennifer Langer visits Palestine – and despite the knowledge that led her to become a JfJfP signatory, felt estranged as a Jew and ‘profoundly uncomfortable bearing witness to the oppression and dystopian existence inflicted on the Palestinians. ‘

The record of imperial powers to resistance is atrocious: France, Britain, Belgium… But they did not pretend they were not colonialists. Israel does. Whether resisters fire home-made rockets or throw stones they will be taken out. Bombed to death or locked up for 20 years regardless of whether or not anyone has been hurt. Israel cannot bear resistance to be seen. Amira Hass on the right to resist.

Hats off (they had to keep theirs on) to those who joined the protest called by JfJfP in Sunday’s pouring rain protesting against the planned demolition of Susya village outside the Israeli embassy in London on July 26th, 2015. Photos by Naomi Wayne.

This week, July 20-26, 2015 the Iran nuclear deal is still the dominant talking point in the Israeli media – or rather, absolutely not a talking point in the sense of argument; rather, it is a matter of loud unthinking assertion that the deal, in Netanyahu’s words, is an ‘historic mistake’ granting the Iran government […]

As Amira Hass and Nasser Nawaja point out, Susya is unique only in the international support it has attracted, becoming the symbol for the precarious status of Palestinian villages. But documents obtained by Haaretz may stay the hand of the demolishers; they prove the Palestinians’ claim to the land.

Ali Abuminah was the first to report the decision by the ICC that an investigation into the killing of nine Turkish activists should be launched. This is a more detailed account of the legal implications.

Israel’s Prime Minister names the Iran deal ‘a bad mistake of historic proportions’. Instead of countering this hyperbole Israel’s political leaders have all shuffled into line. Uri Avnery surveys the herd, led by men who play into every antisemitic caricature, with scorn and dismay.

The P5+1 deal with Iran on nuclear capability has flaws, but it’s better than no deal. Yet almost all Israel is swept up in a fervour of opposition. Two Israeli experts on control of nuclear power stand against the crowd.